Saturday, 14 March 2015

Last weekend the Find My Past web
site had a 'free access' policy allowing people to access a large number of
records for no charge.

Given that this site has many records
not available on Ancestry, Chris took the opportunity to take a look for any
records regarding Goole men which the Group didn't already have, mainly
concentrating on the 452 men named upon the Cenotaph. Detailed below is a
summary of all of the records found to date.

As a result of research that
started 9-and a half years ago, the Group now have 100 service records relating
to some of those men named; this breaks down as 81 Army (including those men
who served with Australian, New Zealand and Canadian Forces) and the Royal
Flying Corps/Royal Air Force; and 18 who served with the Royal Navy, Royal
Marine and Royal Naval Division - in addition to this number is the record of
William Henry Dean, who had served briefly with the Royal Engineers but being
deemed 'unlikely to make an efficient soldier' he was discharged, going back to
sea, and eventually to HM Drifter 'Spotless Prince' upon which he lost his life
on 26th October 1916. Two of the records relate the 'other ranks' service of
two men who were later Commissioned (for some reason these pages were not
included within their 'new' record when they completed Officer Training).

All of the above records, except
seven of them, are also accompanied by the relevant Medal Roll pages detailing
the medals awarded to each man for his service. The seven who are not named
within the medal rolls didn't serve abroad during their time of service - three
had already been discharged, with two of them, Charles Richard Marshall and
George Dennison dying on dates that have yet to be ascertained.

Even without a service record,
details are contained within the medal rolls of men who arrived in France, Egypt (some being bound for
Gallipoli), or the Balkans throughout the latter part of 1914 and all of 1915.
Further details are recorded for those men who had served with other units
prior to the one with which they were serving when they lost their lives.

With regards to those who served
with the Army (and RFC/RAF) records that give the amount of pension paid to
next-of-kin are found within the 'Register of Soldier's Effects'. The weekly
amount paid was based on rank, marriage and any children. All of these records
also bear another amount paid in 1919 - a 'War Gratuity' payment, this being a
'one-off' payment again based on the criteria above. Most of the men for whom
service records and medal rolls have been found also have these pages accompanying
them - though three would appear to have either been lost or misidentified.

An opportunity to further
research men named on the Cenotaph but about which no information regarding any
service during the First World War had so far been located was also taken; this
has led to one very intriguing story.

Within the Goole Times' 1916
Almanac is the following entry, 'Stephen Jos. Kelly, Swinefleet, seaman in the
Royal Navy'. Within the 1917 'Roll of Honour' booklet is this, 'S.J. Kelly,
Swinefleet, Seaman, RN.; died from pneumonia'; and within a list of fallen men
from Goole, nearly all of whom being named on the Cenotaph, that was printed in
the Goole Times on 28th November 1919 is this entry, 'Stephen Joseph Kelly (HMS
Pembroke)'.

Among the records for Goole who
men who served with the Royal Navy is a record for one Stephen Kelly, which
shows that he was born in Goole on 15th January 1894. On 10th March 1914 he
enlists in the Royal Navy, stating that he wants to serve for 12 years,
assigned to HMS Pembroke as a Stoker Class II. On 17th April 1914 it is
recorded under 'If discharged, whither and for what cause' as 'DD' - 'Discharged
Death'. Stephen had been admitted to ChathamHospital with Broncho
Pneumonia. Is this record related to the 'Kelly SJ' named on the towns'
Cenotaph? Stephen's name is also included on a Chancel Screen within Swinefleet
Chapel that lists Swinefleet men who had fallen during the Great War - though
his name is not recorded on Swinefleet Memorial.

Unfortunately at the time of
writing there are 16 men who are named upon the plaques on the Cenotaph which
bear the names of the fallen from Goole about whom no information has been
found. All of these men are named with the Goole Times edition of 28th November
1919 under the headings Royal Navy and RND; Army; and Mercantile Marine, but
even with this information details as to their individual service and deaths remain
elusive.

Similar endeavours to look for
records regarding those men who had some association to Goole who also lost
their lives but who aren't named on the Cenotaph is continuing. Why weren't
they named on the Cenotaph? This was, and still is, solely down to the
preference of the family concerned. This particular list currently contains 309
men, some of whom spent their whole lives within the town prior to serving
(Fred and Arthur Moody, both Mercantile Mariners; Fred enlisting in the
Australian Imperial Force, killed at Gallipoli; Arthur aboard s.s. Duckbridge,
lost off north Scottish coast), while for others their only connection to Goole
is that they formerly worked within the town (as did Clifford Riley, ex Master,
Goole Secondary School, killed 1st July 1916) or that they enlisted within the
town.

What of those men who survived
their time within the Forces, either being placed on the 'Reserve' and liable
for a return to service should the Armistice fail, or who were discharged owing
to wounds. To date 399 records, from the barest detail (name listed within the
London Gazette announcing the award of the Military Medal, for example) through
to full service histories have been found. As with the service records detailed
above, it is hoped within time to have each of these records interpreted so
that other people can read the details of the men, and women, from Goole who
served with distinction and courage during the 'Great War'.

It isn't just Goole though that
the Goole First World War Research Group is looking at in terms of those men
who enlisted. A great deal of work has been done by one of its members, Alan
Dodsworth, in researching the men of the Marshland villages (Swinefleet,
Reedness, Whitgift, Adlingfleet and Eastoft). Having a smaller number of men
and records to deal with, Alan's work also includes more family background
information (from the Census records), as well as the Wills filled in by the
men, detailing to whom their belongings, and in some cases, to whom the
pensions payable on behalf of their service should be paid to - more often than
not named within the 'Register of Soldier's Effects'.

One final question - what remains
to be found? The easy answer would be 'don't know'. There is no general index
on what records survive, it is only when a search is conducted that records
regarding the men of Goole and District come to light. Chris compares it to a
jigsaw - "Imagine a jigsaw to which you have no picture to work with, you
don't know how big it is and you don't know how many pieces there are when it's
finished."

Sunday, 18 January 2015

This postcard was sent home by
William Henry Butcher, to his parents John William and Selina Bertha (nee
Morley) at 46 Bridge Street,
Doncaster.

The front of the card shows King
George V 'at the Front' and being 'at the grave of a fallen hero'. The card is
one of an official series released by the Government showing various scenes at
which to inspire the people at home to continue the support of the War; to help
raise recruitment; to keep the morale of the troops in France and elsewhere
high - as well as depicting that the head of state was also as much concerned
about the efforts of those men in uniform.

On the reverse William (Billy)
wrote the following:

'Dear F & M, Just received a
writing pad from Goole. Will keep sending you a p p c instead of Field Service
card. Hoping to get full set. B'

The card was passed by the censor
(stamp No. 5015), and stamped by the Field Post Office on 9th July
1917.

Billy' service record has either
been lost, as a result of WW2 bombing, or is still held by the MoD on account
of his service after the First World War but some details can be given from
those records that are accessible.

Billy was born on 15th
April 1894 and in 1901 the family are living at 7 Gordon Street, Doncaster, with his father John William working for
Doncaster Corporation as a waterman. Ten years later the family are still at
the same address, with John now employed as a Tap Inspector at the Borough
Council Water Works; Billy, now aged 16, being employed as a 'fettler' within an iron
foundry at an electrical engineering firm. At this time John was aged 42 with
his wife Selina being 40, the rest of the family being George (13); Annie (10);
Ernest (6); Harold (3) and Ethel (1).

When he enlists on 29th May 1915
in the Royal Field Artillery Billy was given the 'Territorial Force' number
786602, being assigned to 2/3 West Riding Brigade Royal Field Artillery. At
some point he is transferred, being given the number 291143 - all this time his
rank being 'Driver' (one of two men in charge of the horses, both when teamed
up with gun and limber, and when the gun is in 'action').

On 11th March 1919 he
is discharged from the Army, but on the following day at Catterick he re-enlists,
again in the RFA, now aged 24 years and 10 months. His former trade is given as
'skilled labourer', with his father' address given as 46 Bridge Street, Doncaster.
His number now being 1046730.

At some time after the above date
Billy is posted to Mesopotamia, and as a result of his 'good work' he is
'Mentioned in Despatches' - his name being printed in the London Gazette
(Supplement 32452 pg.7179 dated 9th September 1921); his rank at
this time is stated as 'Signaller'.

﻿

Extract from Form W5398 detailing the service of
William Henry Butcher

On 31st March 1922
Billy is stationed at No. 3 Depot RFA, Hilsea, when he is discharged on account
of the 'Termination of Service' under King's Regulations Para 392 (xxi). Now
holding the rank of Bombardier, his conduct is noted as 'exemplary'. He gives
his address upon discharge as 10 Flanderwell Villas, Bramley, Nr Rotherham.

As a result of his service in
France Billy is awarded the British War and Victory Medals, both bearing the
rank of Driver and No. 291143. He is also awarded the General Service Medal,
with the clasp denoting 'Iraq'.

Billy married Alice Sturman in
the late summer or early autumn of 1930. He died in 1974.

On the postcard sent to his
parents, Billy states that he received a writing-pad from Goole. It was
probably from his Mother’s sister, his Aunt Agnes. Agnes Mary Morley was
married to a boiler-maker named Arthur Atkinson. They were married in Doncaster in 1895 and shortly afterwards moved to Goole. They had a daughter Edith who was born in 1897. In 1901
Arthur and Agnes are residing at 8 Kingston
Terrace, Goole; ten years later they are 'boarders' at 18 Heber Terrace, Old
Goole. On the latter date Arthur is 35, with Agnes aged thirty-four. Edith, in
1911 is stated as being a drilling machine worker at a brass foundry in
Doncaster, while living with her mother' parents, George and Mary Ann Morley,
at 8 Wellington Street,
Doncaster.

Thursday, 18 September 2014

Very
recently a picture of a Royal Engineers football team, pictured in France
during 1916, was published within the pages of the Goole Times. The
accompanying information mentioned that a man named Matthew Glaves, of Goole,
was within the picture and that he, along with his four brothers served in the
Army during the First World War.

The
following information has been extracted by Chris Laidler, from three Services
Records that have survived the years since the ‘Great War’.

Matthew
enlisted on 8th Dec 1915, being assigned to the Inland Waterways
Transport, Royal Engineers, as No. 156928. Upon his attestation form he gives
his home address as 16 Widop Street and that he was employed as a coal trimmer
on the docks. Aged 26 years and 11 months he gives his next-of-kin as his wife,
Mary Ann (nee Barlow) whom he married in April 1911, as well as naming his
children – Annie Mary (b. June 1913) and Ambrose Leslie (b. Dec 1915 – days
after he enlisted).

After
his initial training he was ‘mobilised’ on 3rd April 1916 and posted
to I.W.T., R.E. Ten days later he is appointed to the rank of Sapper. From 11th
Aug Matthew was raised to the ‘Superior’ rate of ‘Engineer Pay’ meaning an
extra 1s 8d per day; and from 11th Feb 1917 as ‘Very Superior’ and
granted 2s. (This money would be in addition to his normal rate of pay of 1s 2d
per day.)

Matthew
left England for France on 10th May 1916, and arriving the next day
he was immediately posted to his unit. On 6th June he was admitted
to hospital – cause not recorded, rejoining his unit two weeks later.

At
some point Matthew was granted leave to the UK, but he was to lose 14 days’ pay
after overstaying his leave pass by 24 hours, reporting at 4pm on 18th
October.

Matthew
was admitted to 5th Stationary Hospital, St. Omer on 10th
Nov 1917 suffering from severe appendicitis; permission for Mary Ann to visit
him being refused. The date on which he left hospital is not entirely readable
but during the latter half of Jan 1918. He was again admitted to hospital on
two other separate occasions – 16th Dec for 8 days; and 2nd
Aug 1919 for about ten days, neither the hospitals or the reasons for both admittances’
being recorded.

Sometime
during 1918 he is allocated a new regimental number – 509309, and it is with
this number he is discharged on 21st Sept 1919 at the RE Depot, Chatham. At a
medical examination taken six days earlier he claims to be ‘not suffering from
any disability due to my military service’.

Matthew
gives his address on discharge as 31 Elsie Street; he is still there in July
1922 when his British War and Victory Medals are sent to him.

Ernest
enlisted on the same day as Matthew, giving his home address as that of his
father Tom – 3 Widop Street, whom he also names as his next-of-kin. Aged 33
years and 11 months he states his trade as ‘Seaman’.

Like
his younger brother he too is assigned to I.W.T., R.E., as No. 149676.
Mobilised on 27th Jan 1916 he is promoted to the rank of Sapper four
days later. He left England on 9th March, joining his unit upon his
arrival in France.

On
27th April he is appointed (and paid) as a Lance-Corporal; in
mid-October 1917 he is appointed as Acting/2nd Cpl. In early 1918 he
is assigned a new regimental number – 501905. In Oct 1918 Ernest is
subsequently promoted to the rank of Corporal.

From
27th Aug 1918 Ernest is granted 14 days leave to the UK. About three
months after his return to France he is admitted to hospital in mid-October;
where he stays for nearly three weeks. After being discharged he is sent to 12th
Command Depot, thence to ‘J’ Infantry Base Depot, from where here-joins his unit on 17th
Dec.

At
some point during early 1919 Ernest is granted a further 14 day period of leave
to the UK, being back in France before 23rd April when he is again
admitted to hospital – no cause given; he is returned to the UK aboard the
Ambulance Ship ‘Brighton’, arriving on 4th June.; being admitted at
some point to Kitchener’s Military Hospital, Brighton.

Having
served for 3 years 193 days Ernest is discharged from the Army on 7th
Aug 1919. Upon discharge he is assessed as having 30% disability due to
bronchitis, being ‘attributable to Service’ and a weekly pension of 9s was to
be paid from 8th Aug, which was to be reviewed after 26 weeks.

Ernest
states his intended residence as his former home in Widop Street; but by the
time his medals are awarded in July 1922 he is living at 16 Marlboro’ Avenue.

On
11th Dec 1915, Wilfred enlisted, just like his brothers at Goole,
and like them he is posted to Inland Waterways Transport, Royal Engineers, as
No. 149715. He too gives his home address as 3 Widop Street, his age as 25
years 2 months and that he was employed as a (locomotive) cleaner. No date is
given as to his eventual transfer to the Railway Company, R.E.

Wilfred
was ‘mobilised’ on 31st Jan 1916, being appointed to the rank of
Sapper that same day. On 20th March he is posted to the
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, embarking at Falmouth three days later;
disembarking at Corfu on 14th April – departing on 1st
May for Greece. Wilfred’ stay in Greece is brief being returned home from
Salonika on 30th May.

Subsequently
based at Sandwich Camp Wilfred is ‘admonished’ for overstaying his pass, having
being recalled by telegram for leave to expire midnight Sunday 2 July, and
being absent for 18 hours. Penalty imposed by 2 Lt RG Wright, OC B Coy being
loss of pay for 2 days.

On
23rd Aug Wilfred is informed in Part II Orders that he is rated for
‘Engineer Pay’ of 2s per day, being payable from 28th. On 5th
March 1917 Wilfred is admitted to hospital having had a football kicked in to
his face and displacing his septum, being released to his unit seven days
later.

Wilfred
again leaves the UK on 29th June 1917, bound for France, arriving
the following day. In early 1918 Wilfred is assigned a new regimental number –
501925.

After
having a period of leave (to the UK) in March 1919, Wilfred seems to have spent
some time away from his unit, rejoining 282 Railway Company R.E. on 26th
May. On 3rd Sept he returns to the UK, being discharged on 4th
October 1919, whereupon Wilfred gives his address 3 Widop Street.

Wilfred
signs for his British War and Victory Medals on 6th July 1922,
though no address is given.

Despite the good fortune that all five of the Glaves brothers' survived the War, due
to the fact that a lot of records were lost during WW2, it has been unable at
the time of writing to determine the units that George and Ambrose served with,
but looking at the details of those that have survived it would appear that
these two men’s records have been lost.

Sunday, 10 August 2014

In terms of archival records
very little has survived to document Goole’s involvement in the First World.
Fortunately the town has a newspaper which published a weekly newspaper and a
twice a week short local news editorial. The Goole Times printed details of nearly
every service man from the town killed, awarded gallantry medals, weekly
feature articles with pictures of Goole men and also recorded how Goole men
were enlisted. It is thanks to the Goole Times that over 3000 men have been
listed of a database of Goole men who served in the First World War. Below are
two articles extracted from the 1915 Goole Times detailing the impact of the
Voluntary Enlistment Scheme established in 1915, naming men whose service
record would otherwise have been lost.

Goole
Recruiting Returns – 19/03/1915

Response
to the Household Circular

Capt. Featherstone,
recruiting officer for Goole and district supplies us with the following
figures relative to the number of recruits obtained as a result of the issue of
the “Household Circular” by the Parliamentary Committee last November. It will
be remembered that the circular was accompanied by a form to be filled up by
men of eligible age who were willing to serve in the Army when required, if
called upon. The 405 men who assigned the form have all been called upon, but
only 64 have been enlisted. The following are the figures:

Town

Called

Fit and Enlisted

Medically Unfit

Rejected Under
Standard

Already enlisted or
working for Government

No Response

Goole

203

22

73

26

92

48

Rawcliffe

30

7

8

3

5

7

Snaith

35

4

11

3

5

12

Askern

27

8

9

3

2

5

Whitley Bridge

15

5

2

3

2

5

Thorne

63

12

25

12

4

10

Airmyn

12

4

3

2

Swinefleet, etc

18

2

9

7

Drax

2

1

1

Recruiting
at Goole – 14/05/15

Goole
Scoutmaster Enlists

Goole
Town F.C. Goalkeeper Enrolled

Since the recruiting
demonstration at Goole on Tuesday last week, there has been a steady flow of
men to the local Recruiting Office at the Labour Exchange, Goole, to offer
their services to fight for King and country, and a number of local men have
also gone to enlist at Hull, and others have been secured by the Territorial
Regiment, now at York.

In “The Goole Times” last
Friday we gave a list of thirty names of men who had been enrolled after
medical examination, at the Goole Recruiting Office. Since then twenty-nine
others have offered themselves and been enlisted, besides a number of others
who were willing to join, but had to be rejected on medical grounds.

Among the recent enlistments
are Mr Arthur Florence, scoutmaster of the 1st Goole Troop of Boy Scouts,
and himself a “King’s Scout”; C. Guest, another Boy Scout; J C Garner,
goalkeeper for Goole Town Football Club; three men from Goole Gasworks; two
clerks from the Goole Urban District Council Offices, etc. The following are
the names of the recruits accepted since Friday:

Forename

Surname

Record

Herbert

Crosby

Survived

Albert

Walker

Survived

Robert

Johnson

Survived

Arthur

Florence

Survived

Cass

Guest

Underage - discharged

John G

Garner

Survived

Frank

Temple

Survived

James

Ricks

Survived

A W V

King

Survived

George H

Barrow

Survived

John W

Bowman

Survived

Alfred G

Turner

Survived

H C H

Hargreaves

Survived

Louis

Cook

Survived

John A

Edmondson

Survived

Albert

Jackson

KIA

George A

Beavors

Survived

John

Hitchen

Survived

Pike

Henry

Survived

George A

Lane

KIA

George

Gill

Survived

C. Duncan

Miler

KIA

George E.

Isle

Survived

William Oscar

Wright

Survived

Harry

Simms

Survived

George

Glew

Survived

Ernest

Wilson

KIA

In addition to the
fifty-nine who have enlisted at Goole since the demonstration and whose names
have been published, there are at least five or six who have enlisted at Hull,
and another dozen have gone to York, making a total of eighty.

About the Group

This Group brings together two seperate pieces of research - the street 'Rolls of Honour' that were placed on a number of buildings within Goole; and that of researching those men who made the 'ultimate sacrifice'.While this Group is newly formed the reasrch has been on-going for a number of years. This blog aims to highlight specific areas of our research in the hope that the Group can further research the impact of the 'Great War' upon Goole, and the men who enlisted in the Services.